Appearing in this chapter:
Gigi Lai as Nguyen May Tuyet
Louis Koo as Truong Thien Long
Tavia Yeung-Duong Tam Nhu
Helena Tam as Tan Sang Nhi
Steven Ma as Tan Tu Bach
Carmen Lee as Nguyen Ngoc Yen
Angela Tong as Thanh Thuy Nuong Nuong
Michelle Yip as Duong Thi Nhu
Benny Chan as Tran Vinh Lam
Julian Cheung as Tran Tri Lam
~~~~* *~~~~
“Nguyen May Tuyet?” The old man repeated. Then another moment of silence erupted before he spoke again and strangely enough it seemed to be in a rather calm voice. “If you really are Nguyen Ngoc Hieu’s daughter then you would have learnt Minh Lien Chan Phap.”
A sudden swish of a cloak was heard and before neither of them could do anything, a pair of long wooden sticks shot out form a small crack in the caves and an old man flew out of there like a bat, quickly and with a dark image. The two sticks fixed themselves on the ground meters inform of May Tuyet and the dark image revealed to be an old man as he twisted his two disabled legs around the sticks to stand up. He had a face that was paler than a corpse and his old skin was wrinkly, as though there was place in which the skin was straight. But the most frightful thing was his eyes. Where there should have been dark globes staring into the world, was nothing. Just two holes; large, dark, and empty.
“Do you see what I have become?” The old man asked. “This is all thanks to your mother Nguyen May Tuyet. And if I can’t get revenge from her, then I’ll do it to her only daughter!”
He bolted in May Tuyet’s direction with lightning speed. May Tuyet’s body curved and avoided him without her direction. He flew right pass her and missed badly. Just as he was about to turn back however, Thien Long joined them and met the old man’s internal energy with his own. They began their fight and it proved to be quite lethal.
May Tuyet watched for an instant before running over to the trees. Tam Nhu, Sang Nhi, and Tu Bach were just visible from behind the branches. She slipped a remedy in each of their mouths and felt a clash of energy nearby. May Tuyet turned out to look and saw Thien Long led the old man out of the cave by flight.
Tam Nhu stirred and opened her eyes to see her mistress.
“When the others wake up find us,” May Tuyet said to her maid calmly, “follow the snow lotus scent.”
Tam Nhu nodded but it didn’t really matter for May Tuyet had already took flight.
~~~~* *~~~~
Thien Long swiftly avoided the internal energy that was being shot at him from behind. They had now reached the green forest and were still flying. After a short while longer, he landed on the grass and waited for the figure behind him to do the same. The sticks planted themselves in the ground and the old man stood over them.
“You said before you’re of The Million Sworded Manor didn’t you?” The old man asked calmly.
“Yes I did Elder,” Thien Long respectfully replied.
The old man nodded as though he were merely inspecting a young student practice.
“Ly Trien Son should be proud.” The old man said, “He taught you well. But that doesn’t mean anything here. Both you and that Water Palace girl are going to die!” And with that, he aimed at him again.
Before he could reach Thien Long however, he stopped dead in his flight track and pulled a strangled face, then fell to the floor. He squirmed at gasped. There was a stick run through his back.
May Tuyet came slowly into view with the calmest face anyone could ever muster. She did not at all look like she had just killed an old man, but rather as though she was merely taking a stroll in the park.
She slowly walked over to the old man who was still gasping for breathe. Thien Long joined her by her side and said nothing. What caused May Tuyet’s face to change from calm to slightly startled, was when the old man laughed.
“What are you laughing at?” May Tuyet asked, her voice cool. “Is the demon of death so hilarious to look at?”
“Do you want to know who your father is?” The old man asked still panting whether it was from lack of air or laughing, no one could tell.
May Tuyet’s face fell emotionless and se immediately leant down, a level over the old man.
“You know who my father is?” She asked her voice still.
The old man laughed again but this time, it sounded very forced.
“You’re mother will never tell you, so you need an old man to…an old man that you have just killed.”
And then, before he said anymore, a small branch no larger than a thumb shot out at May Tuyet. She had let her guard down and was not prepared. She saw Thien Long’s fingers in front of her face holding back the branch, and the next thing she knew, a sword shot out from behind her puncturing the old man’s heart. He gave out a look of surprise before falling still. May Tuyet looked at his body once before turning away.
From behind them, Tam Nhu, Sang Nhi, and Tu Bach appeared. It had been Tam Nhu that threw the sword.
“Tieu tho,” The young girl began as she ran over to her mistress, “Are you okay?”
May Tuyet gave out an air of regret of a second before nodding her head.
“I’m fine.” She answered.
Sang Nhi and Tu Bach eyed her strangely as she and Tam Nhu began their path elsewhere. May Tuyet completely ignored the three people behind her but Tam Nhu gestured them all to follow behind her mistress’ back.
~~~~* *~~~~
“…and where is Thanh Nu currently at?” Thanh Thuy Nuong Nuong (Angela Tong) asked, sitting on her throne staring down at Thi Nhu’s (Michelle Yip) figure as Ngoc Yen (Carmen Lee) stood next to her.
“Thanh Nu said that she was on her way towards the south,” Thi Nhu answered. It wasn’t a lie; that was what her mistress had said to her.
“Hmm.” Thanh Thuy Nuong Nuong said with a calm smiling face that made Thi Nhu nervous. “Now I wonder why she would want to go there.”
“Thanh Nu May Tuyet said that she would like to go sightseeing.” Thi Nhu replied, proud that her voice had no quaver.
“Well then, Ngoc Yen, would you like to go with Thi Nhu to bring May Tuyet back?” Thanh Thuy Nuong Nuong asked in a composed voice.
“Aunty, but-” Ngoc Yen began.
“There’s no need to worry,” Thanh Thuy Nuong Nuong cut in gently, “May Tuyet will listen to you; she always has. And you have to get to learn more on the outside world now.”
Ngoc Yen nodded.
“Yes Cung Chua.” She said curtsying.
~~~~* *~~~~
After walking for a while, the small group reached the beach once again and May Tuyet turned around to see that Sang Nhi was speaking to Thien Long with a carefree expression.
“Cong tu,” She was saying, “now that you’ve found us, there’s no way that we can’t get off this island.”
May Tuyet seemed to smirk as she turned away.
“Tam Nhu,” May Tuyet began, “take this.”
She pulled out a marble remedy which Tam Nhu took without question.
“Tieu tho, so you know where we are?” Tam Nhu asked once she’d taken it.
May Tuyet gave out a small smile and nodded.
“From what I’ve seen of the island, there are no inhabitants, decent food or water. The only life from other then that old man is the blue snake, native to the island. If I’m not mistaken then this is one of the four Fatal Islands.”
“How would you know?” Sang Nhi challenged, overhearing the conversation.
May Tuyet ignored her and turned to Thien Long.
“You helped me before so I will now help you in return.” She said calmly. “I will order for a ship to come and pick us up. The tides only come in on this island once every fourteen days so anything that happens to you during the time is none of my business.” She began walking. “Come Tam Nhu.”
But Tam Nhu wasn’t following, she felt an usual feeling soar through her.
“Tieu tho!” Tam Nhu gasped suddenly clutching her stomach.
May Tuyet leant over to her, immediately worried.
“Tam Nhu what’s wrong?”
“What did you give her before?” Tu Bach immediately demanded with a protective look on his face.
“You don’t need to ask,” Sang Nhi snapped, she too liked Tam Nhu a lot. “It’s obviously poison.”
Thien Long said nothing and watched the young woman’s reply as her worry almost completely vanished.
“That’s right,” May Tuyet said impatiently, “I’ve poisoned my maid so now I don’t need to starve.” She gave them a look of venom. “Don’t be so stupid! If there was someone to kill, I’d deal with you two idiots first!”
May Tuyet grabbed Tam Nhu’s arm and launched with her into the forest area far way.
“Insane,” Sang Nhi breathed watching the white figure leave.
“Cong tu,” Tu Bach said looking over at Thien Long, his face full of worry, “we have to save Tam Nhu.”
“Don’t worry,” Thien Long said calmly as he too watched the area in which May Tuyet had left in. “Nguyen May Tuyet wouldn’t hurt Tam Nhu.”
~~~~* *~~~~
May Tuyet sat with her legs folded underneath her on the grass as she transferred internal energy into Tam Nhu’s. Her palms were laid flat against Tam Nhu’s back and smoke formed from her maid’s temple.
The trees around them were silent and not a sound was heard. After a while longer, May Tuyet retreated her energy and laid Tam Nhu carefully on the grass before standing up.
May Tuyet stared thoughtfully at nothing as she thought. Why had the medicine reacted that way? According to Ngoc Yen the pill wouldn’t have acted that way no matter who took it. Why had it done that to Tam Nhu? May Tuyet herself had tried it at The Million Sworded Manor and was fine. There was no way it could have been poisoned unless…
May Tuyet pulled out the jar and sniffed it gently. This definitely not the same scent as last time…only very, very similar. That meant that someone had exchanged the medication for poison.
Tam Nhu began to stir and May Tuyet walked over to help her up.
“Thanh Nu,” Tam Nhu began, “Are we in the forest of the island?”
“That’s right.” May Tuyet answered in hr usual calm yet commanding voice, “are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” Tam Nhu answered slowly. “What poison was it?”
”A poison that was exchanged with Ngoc Yen’s remedies. I’ve never heard of it before…but I was careless and should have known that it was different. I’m sorry.” May Tuyet added. “But you’re fine now. I’ve let you have a pill of Nguyen Nguyen Bao Tam Don and transferred enough energy to evaporate the poison.”
“Thank you.” Tam Nhu curtsying.
But May Tuyet was barely listening. Her attention was captured by a butterfly. It was flying peacefully over to a bundle of flowers. She thought for a moment and smiled. Tam Nhu knew at that moment that she had figured out a way to get off the island.
~~~~* *~~~~
Ngoc Yen walked quite nervously through the streets as people- mainly men- around her stared. Thi Nhu was gaining attention too, but not nearly as much as Ngoc Yen.
“Ngoc Yen co nuong,” Thi Nhu began, “Phuong Nhi, Song Nhi, Thai Nhi, Hai Nhi, and Thu Nhi is waiting in this inn.”
Ngoc Yen nodded and entered the inn that Thi Nhu was pointing at. When she entered, the five white robed girls in The Water Palace’s uniform stood up and curtsied to her.
“Nguyen co nuong,” They greeted.
“Sit down,” Ngoc Yen said, “there isn’t any need for any formal traits, we aren’t in the-”
She paused as she saw three soldiers enter the inn. They were the lowest classed soldiers but still they acted as though they were superior to all.
“Get out of the way!” One of them snarled, shooing away some of the customers at a table and then all sat down.
“Tieu nhi! (Waiter)” Another one of them said, impatiently banging the table, “tieu nhi!”
“Yes sir?” Asked a trembling little girl as she came near them.
“Bring me one kilo of cooked beef and the best wine your place has to offer!” The third man ordered. “Quickly now!”
The tieu nhi hurried away and as she passed Ngoc Yen gaped at her. Ngoc Yen gave the young girl an encouraging smile as she sat down, her cloak fluttering slightly.
The three men looked around impatiently and the third man nudged the others suddenly as he looked at Ngoc Yen’s face. They nodded to each other and they walked over to her.
“Tieu co nuong (little girl),” The first man said flirtatiously, “Aren’t you looking stunning today.”
Thi Nhu and Ngoc Yen ignored them. The five girls of the palace eyed the three men cautiously. As one of them made a move to touch Ngoc Yen’s face, the five girls; Phuong Nhi, Song Nhi, Thai Nhi, Hai Nhi, and Thu Nhi grabbed their swords and pushed the three men away. They formed a completely straight line before they unshed their swords and charged for the soldier’s hearts. Just as it was about to it them, a whip soared through the door causing them miss.
Thi Nhu raised a surprised eyebrow as the whip recoiled and a young man walked into the inn. He was wearing a pale blue robe that had been designed to be fashionable, yet simple. There was only a simple gown and a gold medallion dangling from his belt but still he looked very wealthy.
Thi Nhu stood up and picked up her sword. The young man (Benny Chan) looked around and commandingly.
“What’s going on?”
“Tieu duong gia (younger duke of royalty),” The second man immediately whined. “Please, save us!”
Outside the inn, twenty soldiers lined up blocking the path.
“Co nuong,” He said directly to Thi Nhu, “I do not know what has been happening and would hate to take sides, but these men are of the imperial army and they are soldiers. There is no punishment that you being a commoner could bestow upon them.”
“Our punishment to them is death,” Thi Nhu said meeting the newcomer’s gaze directly, “and there is nothing you can do about it.”
Without another word, she striked. They fought as the young man used his whip and Thi Nhu, her sword.
Ngoc Yen stared at the battle and frowned. They seemed quite equally matched and the only way that one of them were going to win was if the other made a mistake or got help from the outside. Ngoc Yen turned to see two frightened children and walked over to comfort them.
As soon as she’d leant down to their level however, a table that was obviously a result of Thi Nhu’s fight came flying over to her. Ngoc Yen hugged the children tightly prepared to take the blow for them knowing that the five girls were too far away to save her. Just as the table was about to land, it was hit away.
Tri Lam lowered his arm that he had used to hit the able away and looked down at the young maiden with a hidden face.
“Co nuong are you alright?” Tri Lam asked.
Ngoc Yen turned to see a handsome young man staring down at her and smiled a little.
“I’m fine thank you.” She replied.
Tri Lam was surprised to see her face. She seemed much more than beautiful and had a gentle touch of affection glowing from her face. The maiden’s face was pale and delicate with a touch of serenity. Her dark, dark hair made her even look paler and she wore a pale yellow elegant dress that was clearly costly. She was absolutely stunning and the only person that could really rival her beauty was that May Tuyet person. But there was a difference in their beauty, this girl’s face shone with tenderness and her soul glimmered her every expression.
“Thi Nhu,” Ngoc Yen said clearly.
Tri Lam looked over to see his younger brother Vinh Lam and Thi Nhu retreat. ‘Ah of course,’ He thought, ‘she’s of Thuy Lien Cung.’
“Dai ca (Eldest brother)” Vinh Lam (Benny Chan) greeted.
“Ngoc Yen co nuong,” Thi Nhu began, “are you okay?”
Ngoc Yen nodded.
“Thi Nhu co nuong,” Tri Lam greeted, “is your tieu tho well?’
Thi Nhu looked over to him and for the first time realized that he was there.
“I wouldn’t know,” She replied, “after all, I haven’t been serving her these last few days.”
“This is all just a small misunderstanding,” Ngoc Yen said once she’d stood up. Her tone ended Thi Nhu’s coldness. “You see, these soldiers tried to dally and everyone here was under orders to protect me so…”
“So that’s the case,” Vinh Lam said, nodding understandingly, “please forgive me for my rudeness then.” He said to Thi Nhu.
Thi Nhu nodded and turned to Ngoc Yen.
“Ngoc Yen co nuong,” She began, “If we do not leave soon we’ll be late to see tieu tho.”
Ngoc Yen nodded in understanding and the five white girls walked over.
“We must go now, have a nice day.” She said, and excused herself.
Ngoc Yen and Thi Nhu waked out, the five girls trailing behind them. When they were gone, Vinh Lam and Tri Mal turned their gazes onto the three soldiers.
“Take them back and teach them a lesson,” Vinh Lam ordered.
“Yes sir.” Five guards came up and led away the three trembling men.
“Dai ca,” Vinh Lam said to his brother, “do you know them?”
“Only the one that you fought,” Tri Lam answered. “They’re from Thuy Lien Cung.”
“But isn’t that place a myth?” Vinh Lam asked in return. After he considered in thought, the younger duke spoke again. “She’s very good.”
“Good?” Tri Lam repeated smirking, “I don’t think we’ve seen anything from Thuy Lien Cung yet….”